(BaiLing's pov)
Once we got back to the manor, grandpa and I headed inside. After letting him settle down, I went to get changed before moving on with my everyday routine, which was going to the kitchen.
Not long after entering the kitchen, I could hear father and brother's horses arriving at the front gate. Seeing how everything was set and almost done, I left and went out to welcome them home.
Me: "Father, brother, welcome home."
Father and brother: "Thank you."
Zhi Chen: "By the way, is grandpa here? I saw his carriage outside."
Me: "He is. He's inside. Why don't you guys go clean up and come out for dinner? It's almost ready."
They both then went to greet grandpa and then left to clean up. By the time they came out, all the dishes had just been set down. So, with everyone present, we all started to dig into dinner.
During dinner, we chatted about our day, and my father and brother found out about my wound. At first, brother wanted to go settle the debt with the eighth prince, but after some convincing and merdian blocking, he was able to settle down and finish his dinner.
When dinner was almost over, I remembered that tomorrow was Saturday, which meant we all had a day off.
Me: "Grandpa, will you be going out to the shop tomorrow?"
Li Qiang: "Hmm, I will. Something wrong?"
Me: "No, I have tomorrow off, so I'll come and help you."
Li Qiang: "Hmm, sounds good."
Just as grandpa finished his sentence, brother then spoke up and said.
"Ahhh... that's right. I haven't been out to the shop in a while."
Me: "Then why don't you come with me tomorrow?"
My brother paused for a bit but then said.
"Alright. It will be good to go out for a change of scenery."
I then looked over at dad and asked.
"Dad, why don't you come with us as well?"
My dad smiled and responded.
"I wish I could. However, I have some files and documents to go through tomorrow."
Me: "Ohhh."
(After Dinner)
Once dinner was over, I walked grandpa out to the carriage and saw him off. When he was out of sight, I returned to my courtyard and called for Bai Yang.
(Narrator's pov)
Within a few minutes, Bai Yang arrived. He followed BaiLing inside, where she told him to take a seat. However, he refused and said to her that as her servant, it would be best for him to stand.
BaiLing shook her head. BaiLing and Bai Yang had grown up together, and she saw him as her older brother as her family. However, sometimes he was just too stubborn to listen to her.
BaiLing: "Bai Yang, how many times have I told you? I don't see you as a servant but as family. We grew up together. We're practically siblings. So, sit down."
Only after she said, those words did he sit down.
BaiLing: "Right, I need you to check on something for me."
Bai Yang: "I understand."
BaiLing: "I saw a man with the eighth prince today. He seems to be from the desert kingdom. Find out who he is. Focus on ruby hawk trainers."
Bai Yang nodded and then stared at her arm.
Bai Yang: "Did the hawk injury you?"
At first, she was surprised. She then asked him.
"How did you know?"
Bai Yang: "I smell blood. The wound must have ripped open."
BaiLing then looked down at her arm and noticed the blood seeped through her clothes. It seems as though all the moving and stopping her brother had caused the wound to open.
BaiLing: "It's alright. I'll clean it up later. You go and get some rest."
Bai Yang: "I understand."
Afterward, he left, and BaiLing went to get cleaned up. When she returned to her room, she grabbed the medicine and cloth and cleaned up her wound. Once she was done, off to bed she went.
(BaiLing's pov)
The following day, I was up bright and early as usual. After breakfast, there was still time before my brother, and I had to head out, so we went back to our rooms for the time being.
While waiting for time to go by, I read a couple of books and reviewed some things for work. Soon, it was 8 o'clock. I set my book down and went to get changed. Since I was going out today, I wore a simple purple and white dress with patterned embroideries. The outer coat had a looser sleeve than what I usually wear. Although I didn't have to be a noble young lady today, I still had to seem somewhat like a young lady.
I then moved onto my hair, and as usual, I did a simple half-up, half-down. I finished off with a couple of hairpins. Making sure that I had everything I needed, I then headed out. When I got outside, I saw my brother entering my courtyard. Seeing me, he came up and asked.
"Ready?"
Me: "Hmm, let's go."
My brother held out his hand, and once I took it, off we went. We first headed out to the stables to get our horses. Since I wasn't going to work today, I saddled Ming Yue up. Seeing how he wouldn't get to go out today, Bai Yao started being his usual drama queen and causing a lot of noise.
Bai Yao: "Neighhhhhh!! Neighhhhhhh!!"
My brother looked over and shook his head. By now, everyone was used to his personality and could only laugh. I walked over to him and patted his head, and said.
"I'm not going to work today. I'm going to see grandpa. So, be good, okay? You know why you can't go out."
Bai Yao: "Neighhh..."
I patted him again to calm him down.
Me: "Be good. I'll give you some sugar cubes."
Hearing the words sugar cubes, he calmed down. And his mood changed 180 after he ate them. Seeing this, Ming Yue decided to add to all the fun and started to laugh at him. Though this didn't help with anything, all I could do was laugh and quickly leave. Like any other pair of siblings, Ming Yue and Bai Yao always fought in some way, shape, or form.
It took about 30 minutes to arrive at grandpa's workshop. After we got off our horses and put them in the stables, we went into the shop to see grandpa's assistant opening the shop and getting things ready for the day.
Me: "Uncle Su. Morning."
He turned around when he heard me call out.
Uncle Su: "Good morning, BaiLing. Here to help?"
Me: "Yes, I am. I brought an extra pair of hands today."
Uncle Su looked over to see brother following in right behind me.
Zhi Chen: "Good morning, uncle Su. How are you?"
Uncle Su: "Ahh, good morning, young master. Nice to see you. I'm doing well."
(Uncle Su or Wang Su is also a doctor. He runs the shops on days when BaiLing's grandpa isn't there. And on days when he is there, he will be the assistant.)
I looked over to see what uncle Su was doing and saw in placing a teacup into the tray.
Me: "Is that for grandpa?"
Uncle Su: "It is."
Me: "Let me bring it to him."
Uncle Su handed over the tray, and I went to grandpa's office, down one of the hallways. Knocking on the door, I waited for a response, and soon, one came.
Li Qiang: "Come in."
I opened the door and went inside, with my brother following along. I placed the cup down and said.
"Grandpa, we're here."
He looked up at us and smiled.
Li Qiang: "Good. Now that you're here, why don't you help uncle Su set things up and get ready to open the shop. I need to do something. I'll be out later."
We nodded and went out to help set up. We returned to the front of the shop, rolled our sleeves up, and got to work. While my brother was setting up the desk and tools, I looked over the herbs to see if anything needed to be refilled. By the time 9:30 rolled around, we were set and ready to open. I sat at one of the tables while my brother and uncle Su were behind the counter. Slowly people started to come in. It wasn't always a good thing to see so many patients, but it did feel good to be able to help them.
Grandpa has always had a rule, don't charge the poor and those who can't afford the fee. So, every time we get a patient, the cost varies, and we communicate through our fingers. One finger means no charge, and five fingers mean to charge the most you can. Though, I don't ever remember grandpa using five fingers before. Around noon, we closed the door to take a break. Grandpa went to the kitchen and brought us some snacks and tea. After a 20-minute break, we opened our doors again and returned to work.
About 10 minutes after our doors opened, an old man and his granddaughter came in. The little girl was no more than 4 years old. At this point, grandpa had gone back to his office to do some more work, so I took care of the patients out front.
Me: "Hello, what can I help you with today?"
The old man sat down and said.
"Hello, I'm here for my granddaughter today. She's been having stomach pain and running fevers."
I looked over at the little girl and saw that her complexion was quite pale. I then pulled out a small cushion and had her place her hand on it before taking her pulse.
As I was taking her pulse, I could see that it was weak and not stable. This could usually mean different things, but from her symptoms, I guessed it was poison.
Me: "Has she eaten anything usual lately?"
Old man: "No, not that I know of."
I then turned to the little girl and asked.
"Little one, have you eaten anything unusual lately?"
She thought about it for a bit before telling me.
"Jiejie, I found some mushrooms in the forest. Does this count?"
(Jiejie means older sister in Chinese)
Me: "Do you remember what they look like?"
Little girl: "Umm... they were round and white, but there were some black strips on the stem."
Ahh, I see what's going on. The little girl had picked up some ivy mushrooms thinking they were snow mushrooms. Snow mushrooms don't have black strips and aren't poisonous, whether eaten raw or cooked. However, ivy mushrooms are poisonous when eaten raw, and if not cooked right, they could cause trouble as well.
I smiled and said to her.
"You'll be alright. I'll give you a small treatment, and you'll be good as new."
I took out my acupuncture needles and gave her a minor treatment to get rid of the poison in her body. Once done, I wrote up a prescription and said to her grandpa.
"She ate some toxic mushrooms that she found in the forest. But don't worry, I've treated her. Just brew this medicine according to the instruction, and she'll be healthy again."
Old man: "Thank you so much."
Just as the grandpa finished his sentence, the little girl spoke up and asked.
"Jiejie, will we also get medicine for my grandma?"
I looked over at the grandpa, and he said.
"My wife has back pain, and we come here for her medicine."
Me: "I see."
I then asked uncle Su to bring me her prescription. There was nothing wrong with it, but I decided to add one herb that could make it more effective.
Grandpa and I found out about this not long ago, so I guess he hasn't updated her medicine yet.
Once done, I gave the two papers to uncle Su, and he went back and started to pack the medicine along with my brother. And as usual for this family, the cost was none.
As the grandpa went to get the medicine, the little girl went outside and looked at something. Curious, I went to see what she was looking at. When I got to the door, I could see that she was staring at the old man who old steamed bun and candy figures.
I swatted next to her and asked.
"Do you want one?"
She looked back at me with bright eyes and asked.
"Can I?"
I nodded my head and told her to pick whichever one she wanted. As she was, I also noticed a couple of kids staring at the old man. These kids either didn't have a home or were out with their parents to help sell their products.
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